The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

Vatican City, 8 February 2016 (VIS) –
The programme of the Holy Father's apostolic trip to Mexico, with a
prior stop in Havana, Cuba to meet with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow
and All Russia was published today. The trip, the twelfth of Pope
Francis' papacy, will take place from 12 to 18 February. All times
given below are local.

The Pope will depart from Fiumicino
airport, Rome on Friday 12 February at 7.45 a.m., destined for "Jose
Marti" international airport, Havana, Cuba where he is expected
to arrive at 2 p.m. At 2.15 p.m. he will meet privately with
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, with whom he will sign a
Joint Declaration, followed by discourses from both leaders. At 5.30
p.m. Francis will depart for "Benito Juarez" international
airport, Mexico City, where he is scheduled to arrive at 7.30 p.m.

On Saturday 13 February at 9.30 a.m. a
welcome ceremony will be held at the National Palace, followed by a
courtesy visit to the president of the Republic, and a meeting with
the representatives of civil society and the diplomatic corps. At
11.30 a.m. the Pope will meet with Mexican bishops in the Cathedral,
followed by Holy Mass at 5 p.m. in the Basilica of Guadalupe.

In the morning of Sunday 14 February
the Holy Father will transfer by helicopter to Ecatepec, where he
will preside at a Holy Mass at 11.30. At 2 p.m. he will lunch at the
diocesan seminary, after which he will return by airport to Mexico
City, where he will visit the "Federico Gomez" paediatric
hospital.

On Monday 15 February Francis will
travel by air to Tuxtla Gutierrez, followed by a helicopter transfer
to San Cristobal de Las Casas. At 10.15 a.m. he will celebrate Holy
Mass with the indigenous communities of the Chiapas in the municipal
sports centre, followed by lunch with indigenous representatives and
the papal entourage. At 3 p.m. he will visit the Cathedral of San
Cristobal de Las Casas. At 4.15 p.m., following his return to Tuxtla
Gutierrez, he will meet with families at the "Victor Manuel
Reyna" stadium, after which he will depart for Mexico City where
he is expected to arrive at 8 p.m.

At 7.50 a.m. on Tuesday 16 February he
will depart by air for Morelia, where he will celebrate Holy Mass
with clergy, men and women religious, consecrated persons and
seminarians at the "Venustiano Carranza" stadium. His visit
to the Cathedral at 3.20 p.m. will be followed by an encounter with
young people at the "Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon" stadium at
4.30 p.m. He will later depart for Mexico City, arriving at 7.35 p.m.

In the morning of Wednesday 17
February, at 8.35., the Holy Father will depart by air for Ciudad
Juarez, where he is expected to arrive at 10 a.m. He will visit the
CeReSo No.3 penitentiary at 10.30., followed by a meeting with
representatives of the world of work at the Colegio de Bachilleres of
the State of Chihuahua at midday. At 4 p.m. he will celebrate Holy
Mass in the Ciudad Juarez trade centre. He will then transfer to the
"Abraham Gonzalez" international airport where the farewell
ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. At 7.15 p.m. he will depart for
Rome's Ciampino airport, where he is expected to arrive at 2.45 p.m.
on the following day, Thursday 18 February.

Vatican City, 7 February 2016 (VIS) –
The logic that guides the mission of Jesus and the mission of the
Church is that of 'fishing', of going out in search of men and women,
not our of proselytism but rather to restore full dignity and freedom
through the forgiveness of sins, explained the Pope during today's
Angelus, commenting on the day's reading from the Gospel of St. Luke
which narrates the call of Jesus' first disciples. On the shore of
the Sea of Galilee, Simon Peter and his companions were washing their
nets after a night's fishing without catching anything. Jesus gets
into one of the boats and begins to preach the word of God to the
multitude gathered on the banks. He then tells them to take the boat
out to see and to cast their nets, and although Simon Peter reminds
Him that they had toiled all night in vain, he obeys, faithful to
Christ.

"And his faith did not let him
down; indeed, the nets were filled with such a quantity of fish that
they almost tore", added Francis. "Before this
extraordinary event, the fisherman were overcome with wonder. Simon
Peter fell at Jesus' feet and said, 'Depart from me, Lord, for I am a
sinful man'. This miraculous sign convinced him that Jesus was not
only a great teacher, Whose word is true and powerful, but that He is
the Lord, the manifestation of God. And this presence, so close to
him, inspires in Peter a strong sense of his own pettiness and
unworthiness. From a human point of view, one would think there
should be distance between the sinner and the saint. In truth, it is
precisely his sinful condition that requires the Lord to not distance
himself from him, the same way a doctor cannot turn away from the
sick".

Jesus’ response to Simon Peter is
"reassuring and decisive: 'Do not be afraid; from now on you
will be catching men'. Again, the fisherman from Galilee, placing his
trust in this word, leaves everything and follows Him, He Who has
become his Master and Lord. James and John, companions of Simon
Peter, do likewise. This is the logic that drives the mission of
Jesus and the mission of the Church: to seek out, to 'fish' for men
and women, to return full dignity and freedom to all, through the
forgiveness of sins. This is the essence of Christianity: to spread
the regenerating and gratuitous love of God, with an attitude of
acceptance and mercy to everyone, so that everyone can encounter
God's tenderness and achieve a full life. Here, in a particular way,
I think of confessors: they are the first to give the mercy of the
Father, following the example of Jesus, just as the two saints, Fr.
Leopold and Padre Pio, did.

"Today’s Gospel asks us: do we
really trust the Word of the Lord? Or do we let ourselves be
discouraged by our failures? In this Holy Year of Mercy, we are
called to comfort those who feel they are sinners and unworthy and
downhearted for their mistakes, repeatin Jesus' words to them: 'Fear
not'. The mercy of the Father is greater than your sins. It is
greater, do not be afraid".

Vatican City, 7 February 2016 (VIS) –
Following today's Angelus prayer, Pope Francis reiterated his concern
regarding the tragic fate of civilian populations affected by the
heavy fighting in Syria and compelled to abandon their homelands to
escape the horrors of war. "I hope that, with generous
solidarity, the necessary help may be given to ensure their survival
and dignity, and I appeal to the international community to spare no
effort in urgently bringing the parties involved to the negotiating
table. Only a political solution to the conflict may guarantee a
future of reconciliation and peace for this beloved and afflicted
country, for which I urge you to pray".

After praying a Hail Mary for Syria
with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father
mentioned that today in Italy is the Day for Life, on the theme
“Mercy makes life bloom.” "I join the Italian bishops in
wishing, on the part of various educational and social institutions,
for renewed commitment in favour of human life from conception to
natural end. Our society must be helped to heal from all attacks on
life, and to dare to change within, which is also shown through the
works of mercy".

"Tomorrow, we celebrate the Day of
Prayer and Reflection against Human Trafficking, which offers
everyone the opportunity to help today's new slaves break the heavy
chains of exploitation and to regain their freedom and dignity. I
think in particular of the many women and children, the many men. We
must make every effort to combat this crime, and this intolerable
shame".

Tomorrow, Monday, in the Far East and
in various parts of the world, millions of men and women celebrate
the Lunar New Year. The Pope conveyed his wish that all may
experience "serenity and peace within their families, the first
place where we encounter the values of love and brotherhood,
coexistence and sharing, attention and care for others. May the New
Year bring the fruits of compassion, mercy and solidarity".

Finally, the Pope greeted the priestly
community of the Mexican College of Rome, thanking them for their
commitment to accompany with prayer his upcoming apostolic trip to
Mexico and "the meeting that will take place in Havana with my
dear brother Kirill", he concluded.

Vatican City, 8 February 2016 (VIS) –
"Now that my trip to Mexico is about to begin, I am happy and I
feel great joy. I always have a special remembrance for Mexicans in
my prayers. I hold them in my hearts and now I will be able to visit
them and set foot on that blessed land, so beloved to God and so
close to the Virgin Mary", says Pope Francis in the video
message broadcast yesterday in Mexico on the eve of his upcoming
visit to the country from 12 to 18 February.

"You perhaps ask, what does the
Pope wish for from this trip? The answer is immediate and simple",
he continues. "I wish to go as a missionary of mercy and peace,
to meet with you so we can confess together our faith in God and
share a fundamental truth in our days: that God cares for us, that He
loves us with an infinite love, far beyond what we deserve. I wish to
be as close to you as possible, but in a special way to all those who
suffer, to embrace them and to tell them that Jesus loves them very
much and that He is always by their side".

"I am glad that you are preparing
for the trip with prayer. Prayer enlarges our hearts and prepares us
to receive God's gifts. Prayer illuminates our eyes so we are able to
see our neighbours as God sees them, to love like God loves. Thank
you so much for praying for me, as I am in need of your prayers".

"May I confide to you another of
my greatest wishes?", he continues. "To visit the house of
Our Lady. Like a child, I wish to come to my mother and to place at
her feet all that I carry in my heart. It is good to be able to visit
the maternal home and to be able to feel the tenderness of her
gracious presence. To her I entrust my trip and all of you, my dear
Mexican brothers. May Jesus bless you and may the Holy Virgin care
for you".

Vatican City, 8 February 2016 (VIS) –
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin has sent a message to
Taiwan to express his profound sadness upon learning of the
earthquake last Saturday in Tainan City, which has so far claimed 34
victims and has injured over five hundred. More than a hundred people
are still missing.

The Pope sends prayerful condolences to
the families of the deceased and to the injured, as well as the civil
authorities, and offers encouragement to rescue workers. He commends
the souls of the departed to God's tender mercy and invokes abundant
blessings of consolation and strength to all those affected by the
tragedy.

Vatican City, 6 February 2016 (VIS) –
"He was a servant of mercy. He dedicated himself full time to
the "apostolate of listening", often to the point of
exhaustion. He became, through the ministry of Confession, a living
caress of the Father, healing the wounds of sin and enlivening the
heart with peace. St. Pio never tired of welcoming people and
listening to them, of spending time and energy to spread the perfume
of the Lord's forgiveness. He was able to do so because he was always
attached to the source: he continually slaked his thirst from the
Crucified Jesus and thus became a channel of His mercy", said
the Holy Father of St. Pio of Pietrelcina this morning at the Jubilee
audience, addressing the Padre Pio Prayer Groups, workers of the Home
for the Relief of Suffering private hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo,
Italy, founded by St. Pio, and the faithful of the diocese of
Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo. Yesterday afternoon a
procession brought the relics of St. Pio and St. Leopold Mandic to
St. Peter's Basilica, where they will remain until Thursday 11
February.

Francis described prayer as the "true
mission", and recalled that the Saint defined the prayer groups
as "hothouses of faith and seedbeds of love". "Padre
Pio said that prayer is the force that moves the world, that extends
God's smile and blessing to every languor and weakness", and
explained that prayer is not simply "a good practice for
bringing peace to the heart, nor is it a pious way of obtaining what
one needs from God". "If it were, it would simply be
motivated by a futile selfishness. Prayer, however, is a work of
spiritual mercy, that wishes to present everything to the heart of
God. It is a gift of faith and love, an intercession that is as
necessary as bread. In a word, it means to entrust: to entrust the
Church, people and situations to the Father, so that He may take care
of them. For this reason prayer, as Padre Pio liked to say, is the
best weapon we have; it is a key to God's heart".

The Pope thanked the prayer groups for
their commitment and encouraged them to be "centres of mercy".
He commented that Padre Pio had wanted the Home for the Relief of
Suffering to be not only an excellent hospital, but also a "temple
of science and prayer", and recalled the words of Pope emeritus
Benedict XVI: "Human beings always need something more than
technically proper care. They need humanity. They need heartfelt
concern". Curing sickness means, first and foremost, "taking
care of the patient. At times, while the wounds of the body are
tended to, the wounds of the soul worsen, and these heal more slowly
and with greater difficulty", he added. "Even the dying,
those who are apparently unconscious, participate in prayer carried
out with faith near to them, and they trust in God, in His mercy".
Francis concluded with greetings to the archdiocese of
Manfredonia-Vieste-San Giovanni Rotondo: "May whoever comes to
your beautiful land find in you too a reflection of the light of
Heaven".

Vatican City, 6 February 2016 (VIS) –
This morning the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors
held a meeting in Rome in which it analysed the direction and purpose
of the Commission. As the result of this discussion, it was decided
that Mr. Peter Saunders would take a leave of absence from his
membership to consider how he might best support the Commission's
work.

Vatican City, 8 February 2016 (VIS) –
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has had seven
full days of meetings in Rome. Meetings of the six Working Groups
focused on updates for current projects, and developing and drafting
proposals. External collaborators who assisted the Working Groups
included the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD), and an
expert in Penal Canon Law. Draft proposals were presented to the
Plenary Assembly for further discussion and decision about policies
to propose to the Holy Father. Policies endeavour to recognise the
diversity of information and guidance currently available to the
Church around the world.

Examples of proposals being finalised
for Pope Francis’ consideration include: a request for him to
remind all authorities in the Church of the importance of responding
directly to victims and survivors who approach them; the finalisation
of a Universal Day of Prayer and a penitential liturgy.

Workshops on the legal aspects of the
Protection of Minors to establish more transparency around canonical
trials, with participation of external collaborators, are planned for
later in the year and a report and recommendations will be provided
at the next Plenary Assembly. A website is also being developed to
share Best Practice for the Protection of Minors around the world.

In order to fulfil the mission of the
Holy Father’s Chirograph for the Institution of the Commission to
promote local responsibility, Commission members are actively in
contact with numerous Bishops Conferences, and members of the
Commission have presented to Religious Conferences and Congregations
on safeguarding minors.

Over the past year or so, Commission
members have met with Bishops and child protection authorities in:
Philippines, Austria, Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Scotland, Poland,
Central America (in Costa Rica), United States National Safe
Environment (SECs) and Victims Assistance Coordinators (VACs). As an
outcome of the workshop conducted by members of the Commission last
August in the Philippines, the Philippine Bishops’ Conference
created a child safeguarding office and Pastoral Exhortation on the
pastoral care and protection of minors.

A meeting is planned in March in Ghana
with Secretaries General of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of
Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), and a second meeting with child
protection practitioners drawn from the Association of Member
Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) in Tanzania.
Commission members are also attending the Anglophone Safeguarding
Conference in Rome and the United States National Safe Environment
and Victims Assistance Coordinators 2016. In 2017 the Federation of
Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) has requested a workshop with
Commission members. The Commission likewise welcomes the recent
announcement that in a week’s time the first course offering a
diploma in the Safeguarding of Minors at the Pontifical Gregorian
University will start with 19 participants from four continents:
Africa, Europe, America and Asia.

The September 2016 meeting of the
Commission will have a strategic focus on safeguarding minors in
Catholic schools, and will invite contributions from experts in Latin
America, England and Wales.

The Pontifical Commission for the
Protection of Minors was created by Pope Francis in March of 2014.
The Chirograph of His Holiness Pope Francis states specifically, “The
Commission’s specific task is to propose to me the most opportune
initiatives for protecting minors and vulnerable adults, in order
that we may do everything possible to ensure that crimes such as
those which have occurred are no longer repeated in the Church. The
Commission is to promote local responsibility in the particular
Churches, uniting their efforts to those of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, for the protection of all children and
vulnerable adults.”

Vatican City, 8 February 2016 (VIS) –
The Holy Father appointed- Fr. Shorot Francis Gomes as auxiliary of
the archdiocese of Dhaka (area 12,000, population 23,539,280,
Catholics 64,960, priests 115, religious 695), Bangladesh. The
bishop-elect was born in Hashnabad, Bangladesh in 1965 and was
appointed a priest in 1990. He holds a bachelor's degree in art from
the Notre Dame College of Dhaka and a doctorate in moral theology
from the Alphonsianum Academy, Rome, and has served in a number of
pastoral roles in the archdiocese of Dhaka, including parish vicar,
rector of the minor seminary and vice rector of the major seminary,
and vicar general of the new diocese of Sylhet. He is currently vicar
general of the archdiocese of Dhaka.

On Saturday 6 February, the Holy Father
appointed:

- Fr. Manuel Eugenio Salazar Mora as
bishop of Tilaran – Liberia (area 11,720, population 453,000,
Catholics 384,000, priests 62, permanent deacons 10, religious 87),
Costa Rica. The bishop-elect was born in Guadalupe, Costa Rica in
1958 and was ordained a priest in 1982. He holds a licentiate in
fundamental theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome,
and has served in a number of pastoral and administrative roles in
the archdiocese of San Jose de Costa Rica, including parish vicar,
parish administrator, director of the department for religious
education of the Episcopal Conference, director of the introductory
seminary, rector of the national major Seminary, archdiocesan
episcopal vicar for prophetic pastoral ministry, rector of the
"Sagrado Corazon de Jesus" national seminary, and parish
priest. He is currently pastor of the "San Jeronimo"
parish, Moravia. He succeeds Bishop Vittorino Girardi Stellin,
M.C.C.J., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same
diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

- Fr. Duncan Theodore Tsoke as
auxiliary of the archdiocese of Johannesburg (area 1.099, population
252,786, Catholics 250,000, priests 142, permanent deacons 16,
religious 196), South Africa. The bishop-elect was born in Daveyton,
South Africa in 1964 and was ordained a priest in 1995. He has served
as parish vicar, formator and teacher of spirituality at the St.
Peter seminary of Garsfontein, Pretoria, episcopal vicar for
evangelisation, assistant vicar for vocational pastoral ministry,
parish priest and parish administrator. He is currently vicar general
of the archdiocese of Johannesburg and pastor of the Holy Family
parish in Turffontein.

- Msgr. Giorgio Corbellini, president
of the Labour Office of the Apostolic See, and Msgr. Guido Pozzi,
secretary of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", as
members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.